Cycling from Hanoi to Luang Prabang

Today is the first day of your guided cycling tour through Northern Vietnam and Laos. You’ll be met at the airport by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel in Hanoi. Relax, meet your fellow riders and prepare for the first ride of the trip tomorrow.

This morning you’ll be driven west from Hanoi to Son Tay for a look around the Duong Lam Ancient Village, one of the oldest villages in Hanoi, where traditional buildings and ways of life have been preserved. At Deo Khe, you’ll begin your first ride of the day, 30 km downhill along winding roads that will give you your first views of the lush mountain scenery of rural North Vietnam. The village of Ba Khe is your first rest stop, where you’ll have lunch. In the afternoon you’ll cycle a further 30 km through tea plantations and rice paddy fields to the town of Nghia Lo.

The photographers among you will be delighted today as you explore Tu Le, home of the Hmong people, which is known for its beautiful rice terraces. First, you’ll cycle from Nghia Lo to Tu Le, a distance of around 50 km. The small hills will prepare you for some of the more mountainous routes you will tackle later in the trip. Enjoy the wonderful scenery of villages, rice fields and distant mountains. After lunch, the route takes you on a loop around the Tu Le Valley, passing through Hmong villages along the way. Look forward to a stop at a local hot spring towards the end of the day, where you can soak any aching muscles. You will spend the night in a local guesthouse in Tu Le.

This morning things get a little tougher as you tackle a climb up to Khau Pha Pass, one of several beautiful mountain passes in North Vietnam. This is a challenging climb along winding roads to an elevation of 1500 m, but well worth it for the views of the whole mountain range blanketed in cloud. After descending to Nga Ba Kim, you will continue along a scenic single-lane road past a patchwork of rice terraces and the small villages of La Pan Tan, and Che Cu Nha, to Mu Cang Chai where you will stay overnight in a homestay with a local family.

Day 5 is a lot less strenuous as you sail gently downhill along the well-surfaced road from Mu Cang Chai to Muong Kim. The second leg takes you to Than Uyen. Along this stretch, you'll have views of the iconic cone-shaped limestone karsts this area is so famous for as well as multi-hued rice terraces stretching up the mountainside. Once you arrive in Than Uyen, you can have a leisurely cycle around the small town, before settling into your guesthouse for the night. Tomorrow there’s a lot of cycling!

You’ll need plenty of energy today as you embark on the longest cycle of the trip. You’ll cover lots of ground and get to see some of the most scenic parts of this region. After an early start, you’ll cycle out of Than Uyen to the nearby Ban Chat Reservoir, a vast body of water created by the Ban Chat hydroelectric dam and power plant. The area is very tranquil with many traditional houses along the water’s edge. After crossing by boat to Ta Hua village, you’ll bike another 20 km to Muong Gion. The next leg of the journey takes you another 25 km to the Da River and the 100 m high Pa Uon Bridge. There are stunning views of this majestic river with craggy mountains in the distance. The final leg of the day is mostly downhill another 50 km to Tuan Giao, a small town where you’ll spend the night in a guesthouse.

Start the day with an easy morning cycle out of Tuan Giao on a well-maintained road, passing through a village of the ethnic White Thai tribe. The next stage is a meandering climb up to the Tang Quai Pass, at an elevation of 1700 m. Have your camera ready because the views are amazing – you'll feel like you are standing above the clouds. Today’s final leg takes you to Dien Bien Phu, through quiet villages that see few tourists. Dien Bien Phu was the location of a historic battle where the French were defeated by the Vietnamese, an event that contributed to the ending of French colonial rule in Vietnam. You'll spend the night here at a local hotel.

Today you can relax and explore some of the sights around Dien Bien Phu. Cycle to the location of the famous battle and have a look at a bunker where the French commander Colonel de Castries tried to shelter from the Vietnamese. You can also explore the military museum which tells the story of the battle. There are several other interesting monuments and memorials around the town. Or just relax and enjoy cycling around this rural part of Vietnam far from the tourist trail.

Now that you’ve had a rest, it’s time for another epic day of cycling! Today, you'll get properly off-the-beaten-path visiting places most tourists never see. Set off from Dien Bien and cycle uphill 35 km to Tay Trang which is the border crossing into Laos. Cross into Laos, after which the journey gets a bit easier, with a 30 km downhill cycle along a well-maintained road to the town of Muang Mai where you’ll stop for lunch. This is a region of mountains, forests and rivers, with tribal villages built on the river banks and you’ll begin to feel that you’re seeing authentic Laos. In the afternoon, it’s another 40 km through an ethnic Hmong village to Muang Khoua, on the banks of the Nam Phak River, where you’ll spend the night.

Deep in rural Laos, you’ll follow a winding road along the banks of the Nam Phak River, a tributary of the Nam Ou, one of the most important rivers in Laos. You’ll pass small towns and tribal villages along the river banks. This area is home to more than 12 different ethnic groups. In the afternoon, the road climbs to an elevation of 750 m before descending again to the town of Udomxai.

Today is a chance to challenge yourself as you tackle several ascents and descents on the mountain roads between Udomxai and Nong Khiaw. The morning begins with a scenic 6 km ride out of the town. The first ascent takes you past rustic villages, waterfalls and rainforest to an elevation of 1200 m. Then, get your breath back as you descend for 10 km. The second climb is through Hmong villages to an elevation of 1290 m. The road then descends again through lush vegetation to Pak Mong, after which you continue another 30 km to Nong Kiaw. Nong Khiaw is an authentic, town and haven for travelers on the Nam Ou River, and is the perfect stopping point. Your accommodation for the night is in a guesthouse overlooking the tranquil river.

Enjoy a free day, have a rest and explore Nong Khiaw. You can visit Tham Pha Thok, a nearby cave system, or enjoy a boat excursion down the river. If you’re feeling energetic, you can hike to one of two the mountaintop viewpoints outside the town which offer breathtaking views of the town and river below. Or, simply relax and have a wander around the town where you can even indulge in a spa treatment.

After a short road transfer, this morning’s cycle follows the Nam Ou river to the Nam Ou Bridge. This is where the Nam Ou meets the Mekong River, and you'll stop to visit the Pak Ou Cave, a group of ancient limestone caves sacred to local people, which are full of thousands of Buddha statues. You’ll have lunch on the banks of the Mekong. In the afternoon, the final ride of the trip is along the riverbank and into Luang Prabang. There could not be a better place to end the trip than this wonderful UNESCO-protected city of temples, palaces and colonial buildings. Enjoy your final evening exploring atmospheric Luang Prabang.

It’s time to say your farewells and transfer to the airport.